Irma H. Collins’ Dictionary of Music Education is a “resource for research and a landmark of professional reference for exploring the evolution of music education through time.” (Quoted material from the foreword.) It emphasizes entries concerning people, terms, events, and organizations that have played the largest roles in influencing the course of music education throughout history, especially in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The organization is alphabetical in a fairly standard dictionary format, although entries tend to be a little longer and more detailed that one would expect in a standard dictionary. There are three appendixes of important organizations, important publications, and institutions for music. It also contains a bibliography for further reading and an eleven-page chronology.